Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the budget adjustment and appropriation attached.

Staff is anticipating contracting for review of and report on various technical aspects of Solar Energy Facility Special Use Permit applications.  Specifically, review of the Decommissioning Plan and Bond Estimate, the Heat Island Effect, and Hydrology Analysis are anticipated at an estimated total cost of $75,000.  The County has on contract two firms who are able to provide specialized review and analysis of solar energy facilities.  sPower has agreed to reimburse the County for costs incurred in these reviews related to its application.

This budget adjustment allocates $75,000 to be funded by sPower to hire third-party consultants to review and report on various technical aspects of sPower’s Special Use Permit application. sPower has agreed to reimburse the County for costs incurred in these reviews related to its application to sPower has donated $75,000 to the County that may be used for costs.

Please see the attached budget amendment and appropriation.

If denied, third party reviews of the Decommissioning Plan, Bond Estimate, Heat Island Effect, and Hydrology Analysis cannot be completed in a timely manner as no funding currently is budgeted and appropriated for these reviews.